Liquid homogenizing and the like method and apparatus



Jan. 18, 1938.

J. H. GAR'IVDNER LIQUID HOMOGENIZING AND THE LIKE METHOD AND APPARATUSFiled Jan. 25, 1936 .2 Sheets-Sheet l COOLING APPA RATUS PASTEURIZER 0Romen SUPPLY SOURCE FIG- 9.

1NVENTOR. FIG. 2. 39 4 JOHN H. GARDN R 7 BY I 4% 4 Q7 ATTORNEY.

Jan. 18, 1938. J. H. GARDNER 2,106,026

LIQUID HOMOGENIZING AND THE LIK E METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed J an. 25,less 2 Sheet's-Sheet 2 HN H. GARDNER.

TTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 18, 1938 A LIQUID HOMOGENIZING AND, THE LIKE METHOD ANDAPPARATUS John H. Gardner, Belding, Mich, assignor to Gardner DairyEquipment Corporation, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of MichiganApplication January 25, 1936, Serial No. 60,844

11 Claims.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for homogenizing liquidsor plastic semiliquids and the like.

As is well known, liquids are homogenized by forcing them under pressurethrough orifices or the like of small sectional area.

Homogenizers heretofore proposed have various objectionable featuresamong which are the enormous liquid pressures necessary to force theliquid through the homogenizing orifices the difliculty of manufactureof the apparatus, particularly of the orifice portions; the difiiculty.of cleansing the same to keep them sanitary particularly when milk,cream and other edible materials are the liquids being homogenized; thecomplications of machinery and accessory apparatus to operate thehomogenizing parts of the apparatus. f It is among the objects of thisinvention, thereore:

To provide a homogenizing apparatus in which the above stated defectsand objections are obviated;

To provide generally an improved homogenizing apparatus;

- To provide, in a homogenizing apparatus, an improved form of smallarea orifice;

To provide an improved method of forming small area orifices forhomogenizing purposes;

.To provide a homogenizing apparatus, all the parts of which may beconveniently subjected to cleansing and disinfecting processes;

To provide a homogenizing device of simplified construction adapted tobe installed in a conduit flow line through which liquid to behomogenized may be pumped.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which myinvention appertains.

My invention is fully disclosed in the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, in part diagrammatic, of an apparatusembodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view to an enlarged scale of ahomogenizing part or device illustrated in elevation as a part of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating to an enlarged scale a fragment of thedevice of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view taken from the plane A--'A in the direction of thearrows l4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view taken from the plane A-A from the direction of thearrows 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view to a greatly enlarged scale taken from theplane 5-6 of Fig.3;

Figs. '7 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 6 illustrating modifications;

Fig. 9 is a view illustrating to an enlarged scale, the operativecharacteristics of a pump illustrated in elevation in Fig. 1. Referringto the drawings, 1 have illustrated generally at i a liquid circulatingpump driven by an electric motor 2, the pump and motor being supportedon a common base or pedestal 3. The

pump l and motor 2 may be of any suitable construction but I prefer toemploy a pump of the general character of that shown in Fig. 9. Thispump comprises a stator having a cylindrical chamber 5 therein and animpeller 6 driven by the motor shaft 1 by an eccentric pin 8. Astationary vane 9' pivotedin a recess III in the stator projects into arecess H in the impeller to prevent rotation of the impeller about thepin 8.

Upon rotation of the shaft I, the impeller 6 will be oscillated in thechamber 5 and if conduits i2 and i3 are connected to the chamber 5 onopposite sides of .the vane 9, and are connected in a conduit line offlow, liquid may be drawn in at the conduit i2 and expelled underpressure at the 'conduit l3.

Apump having the characteristics just described is preferred because, aswill be apparent, the flow therethrough, and therefore the pressurecreated thereby, is constant and not undulating. Although thehomogenizing parts of my'invention to be described will operate with anundulating pressure, I have found that the operation thereof is improvedand the homogenizing of liquids thereby is more uniform.if the pressureis not fluctuating or undulating. Furthermore, although I haveillustrated the type of pump which I prefer to employ, the pump itselfforms no essential part of .the present invention and it is believedthat the brief description thereof hereinbefore and the fragmentaryillustration thereof in the drawings will be sufiicient.

The intake side of the pump at I2 is connected to a source [4 of liquidto be homogenized. If the liquid is cream, milk, or the like, the sourceit may be a paste'urizing apparatus. 0n the way from the source ii tothe pump, the liquid flows through a. strainer i5. The output side ofthe pump at I3 is connected by a coupling IE to one side of thehomogenizing device'proper. to be described, l'l, theother side ofwhich, by means of a coupling I 8, isconnected to a conduit line i9 andthe part 2: is exteriorly threaded as at 25 by which the two parts orpieces 22 and 22 may be threaded together. Each piece 22 and 22 hasextending axially thereof similar tubular extensions 22 and 2'l-upon theouter ends of which as at 22-22, preferably like externally threadedcoupling portions are provided which may be of well known form by which,in connection with couplings l2 and I2 shown in Fig. 1, a liquidpressure. type conduit connection may be made therewith for conduitcommunication with interior chambers 22 and 22 of the parts 22 and 22.

Confronting faces 2| and 22 of the. parts 22 and 22, respectively, areformed as'follows. The part 22 has centrally thereof a circular opening22.

forming the inner termination of the chamber 22; Annular shallow grooves24 and 22 are formed in the faces 2| and 22 providing-a flatannular-chamber 22 radially spaced from the opening 22 andshallow"grooves 2'! and 22' similarly provide an annular chamber 22radially outwardly of the chamber 22. Inc faces 2| and 22 whichare incoinciding planes thus engage each other only on planar annular faces42, 4|, 42 on the part 22, and 42, 44, 42 respectively on the part 22.'These facesare preferably ground coplanar so that when the threadedportions 24 and 22 'are drawn up together, the pressure of theengagement thereof will all come on the faces 42 to 42, thus sealingthese faces mutually with liquid-pressure-proof engagement.

'Ihe chamber 22 of the part.22 is .closed inwardly thereof by a wall 42on the outer surface of which the said annular grooves and annular facesof, the part 22 are formed and in the center thereof is-provided anelevated cone or conoidal projection 41 projecting into the. chamber 22.

A plurality vof relatively large perforations 42-42 in the wall 42communicate with the annular chamber 22 and with the chamber 22.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and-6 and as indicatedby the dotted lines 42;a plurality of preferably radial grooves 42 are cut in the planarsurface 42 effecting communication between the annular chamber 22 andthe chamber 22. A plurality of similar grooves 22 'are cut inthe annularsurface 44, effecting communication between the chamber 22 and thechamber 22. The grooves 42 and 22 are preferably formed by a millingoperation andas shown in Fig. 6 are preferably rectangular incross-section, although the curvilinear form of Fig. 'l or thetriangular form of Hg. 2 may be used; and althou h the grooves arepreferably formed in the surfaces 42 of the piece 22, they-may be formedas shown in Fig. 8 in the ways42-42intothechamber22.

corresponding surfaces42 of the piece 22.

In operation of the device liquid from the source M, Fig. 1, is forcedby the pump I into the chamber 22, Fig. 2, the stream thereof beingdivided by the projection 41, and the liquid is then forced outwardlyradially through'the passage- The passageways 42-42 being of very smallcross-sectional area as will be more fully referred to hereinafter, theliquid will, after flowing therethrough, and-- denly expandor explodedue to. the release of pressure thereon into the chamber 22, the combined action of the'pressure induced flow through the u ways 42 andthe'explosion thereof into the chamber 22 effecting homogenizing of theliquid. The liquid then continues to flow out of the chamber22throughthe passageways 22 and into the chamber 22,-and again thehomogenizing action is performed thereon. The liquid,

now homogenized, flows through the passageway 42 into the chamber 22 andthence through the rest ofthe system as hereinbefore referred to.

I have found that when the passageways 42-22 formed by the said grooveshave a cross-sectional area between .008 square inch to .017 squareinch, and of approximately 1'," long, a suitable homogenizing effectwill be performed whether the grooves are of the rectangular form ofPig. 6 or of the other forms of Figs. 7 or 8. And, as will be obvious,other forms of grooves may be employed, my invention not being limitedto any particular cross-sectional area, form, or length of I suchgroove.

It will furthermore be seen that without complications of structure. thehomogenizing effect is of a two-stage type and it will be clearlyapparent that other annular groups of small passagescorresponding to thepassages 42 and 22 may be provided to add other stages of homogenizationor that the eifect can be produced with'a single I stage, for example byomitting the stage performed by the grooves 22.

Whereas, furthermore, the grooves 42 have been made radial because ofthe convenience thereof in-milling the same. it thereby being madepossible to mill directly across the device and by I a single operationmill two aligned diametrically opposite grooves, it will be apparentthat the grooves 42 and 22 maybe disposed in directions other thanradial. 1

From the foregoing description it will, of course, be apparent thatliquid cannot leak along the faces 42 and 42 or 4| and 44 or 42 and 42,because these faces are allcoincid'ental in a single plane. being groundplanar for that W and being held in pressure engagement by thescrew-threaded connection of the two parts 22 and 22, the screwingmovement'of'the two parts being threaded together bottoming on these.surfaces.

As illustrated in Pig. 3, the wall 2| of the chamber 22 adjacent theapproach end of the groove 42, is disposed outwardly radially from theinner end ofsaid groove. By this means, as the liquid approaches theopen end of the groove 42, which as hereinbefore described, is on anelei vated face 42, the liquid is given a slight swirling movementindicated by the arrow .22. While this swirling movement is not enoughto interfere with the free flowing of liquid into and through the eway.grooves 42, it is sufficient, in case there are small particles offoreign matter in the liquid, to carry said particles across and beyondthe opening of the grooves 42 and .to prevent their ilowing'thereintoand lodging therein. Any particles which tend to'lodge at the entranceof the groove 42 are continuously washed away therefrom by the swirlingliquid.

Apparatus of this-class, as is well known, must be frequently cleaned;With the construction above described, to clean the device II it is onlynecessary to uncouple it at the couplings l2 andl2andthentounscrewthetwoparts22and22 from each other whereupon the smallarea pass above described are converted into ilat annular surfaces 42and asillustratedinflg.

5 and other flat annular surfaces 43 and N with radial or other grooves49 and 50 therein as illustrated in Fig. 4. All ofthese surfaces beingfully exposed to the action of cleansing liquids and utensils such asordinary brushes may be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and by thesimplest processes. All of the other surface portions inside and out ofthe device, as clearly illustrated, can, furthermore, be readily cleanedand the passageways 48 may be of such large diameter as to admit easilypassing therethrough a cleansing brush or the like.

I have found that with a homogenizing device as above described, it isnot necessary to employ the high pressures such as 5,000 pounds persquare inch ofliquid heretofore necessary to produce a perfecthomogenizing action; low pressure such as 150 pounds per square inchwill be found suflicient in most cases. And I believe this to be due to,the fact that the passageways through which the liquid is forced may bemade of as small cross-sectional area and as great length as desired andmay, after being forced or squeezed through the passageways, be explodedor expanded thereafter, stage after stage, as may be desired.

In order to facilitate the grinding of the annular surfaces 43 and 44 ofthe part 23, and to facilitate the diametrical cutting of the grooves 49and 50, the central projection I! may be on a separate piece driven intoa suitable recess in the partition 46 of the piece 43 as illustrated inFig. 3. 4

As stated hereinbefore, my inventionis susceptible of variousmodifications and is not limited to the exact construction illustratedand described, the invention comprehending all changes and modificationswhich maybe made within the spirit of my invention without sacrificingits advantages and within the scope of the appended claims. t

In the foregoing, the method and apparatus has been described asdirected particularly to the homogenizing of liquids. The apparatus,however, may be used without change for performing other processes onliquids, such for example as emulsifying, viscolizing, etc. It has beenfound that while homogenizing may be performed at high pressures such asare necessary in prior apparatus, emulsifying is in some cases betterperformed at low pressures. For example, butter and skim milk can beemulsified back into milk or cream, but if the process is performed athigh pressures the/butter fat globules will be iiii broken up and theresulting cream will not be suitable for whipping. Again, ice cream mixcan be made using wholebutter and skim 'milk or water instead of creamwith the usual sugar, gelatin, egg concentrate, etc., and if the wholemix- 00 ture is run through the device above described,

and at the low pressures at which it will operate, the butter and milkor water will be emulsified to a cream consistency at the same time thatthe mix as a whole is homogenized into a homogeneous smooth mix whichwhen frozen provides ice cream of a much improved consistency andtexture.

In some cases, it may be desirable to run the material, to be processed,through the device a number of times successively.

In the following claims the word homogenizing is to be taken in thisbroader sense as inclusive of such other processes and treatments ofliquids, semi-liquids, and the like.

I claim:

6. The apparatus described in claim 1. In a homogenizing device, a pairof walled housing elements adapted to be connected in a liquid conduitflow line, one housing element having a passageway therethrough andlaterally of the mouth of the passageway having a pair of annularconcentric elevated planar faces thereon providing an annular recesstherebetween, the other housing element having a transverse wallprovided with a corresponding pair of annular concentric elevated planarfaces thereon providing an annular recess therebetween, means to clampthe two housing elements together with the elevated faces inpressure-sealed engagement, the recesses providing a sealed annularchamber, a plurality of generally radial grooves in one of the annularfaces providing communication between the said housing elements, andconduit means extending through the said transverse wall effectingcommunication between the said annular chamber and the housing havingthe transverse wall.

2. In a homogenizing device, a pair of walled housing elements adaptedto be connected in a liquid conduit flow line, one housing elementhaving a passageway therethrough and laterally of the mouth of thepassageway having three annular concentric. elevated planar facesthereof providing therebetween two annular recesses, the

other housing element having a transverse wall provided with threecorresponding concentric elevated planar faces thereof providingtherebetween two'other annular recesses, means to clamp the two housingelements together with the elevated faces in pressure-sealed engagement,the recesses providing sealed annular chambers, a plurality of generallyradial grooves extending across one of the annular faces of each pair ofengaged annular faces providing communication between the saidpassageway of the first-named housing element and one of the annularchambers and between said annular chamber and the other annular chamber,and a passageway communicating from the outer annular chamber extendingthrough the said transverse wall effecting communication between saidannular chamber and the housing having the transverse wall. 3. Thehomogenizing device described in claim 10 and in which all of the saidsurfaces are coplanar.

4. In a homogenizing apparatus, a pair of joined fluid conduit elementshaving jointly a passageway therethrough comprising a fluid inlet in oneelement and a fluid outlet in the other, the housing elements supportingrespectively mutually contacting surfaces, an outer portion of saidcontacting surfaces circumscribing and outwardly sealing the passagewayat the iuncture of the elements, the passageway comprising branchpassages of small cross sectional area distacting surface portion of oneelement and covered by a corresponding said contacting surface portionof the other element, and means to clamp the two housing elementstogether and to effect pressure on said contacting surfaces.

5. The apparatus described in claim 4 and in which the housing elementsare clamped to each other by mutually meshed threads and the said sealis on annular contacting surface portions co-axial ofthe threads and thegrooved surface portions and grooved covering surface portions areannular co-axial of the threads.

4. and in i tions co-axial of the threads and the grooved surfaceportions and the grooved covering surface portions are planar andannular coraxi'ally with the threads.

'1. The apparatus described in claim 4 and'in which the housing elementsare clamped to each other by mutually inter-meshed threads and the saidseal is on planar annular contacting surface portions co-axial of thethreads and the grooved surface portions and grooved covering surfaceportions are annular and co-axial with the threads and co-planar withthe said sealing surface portions.

8. A homogenizing device comprising a conduit form housing adapted tobeconnected in a liquid flow conduit line and to have liquid'forcedtherethrough under pressure, the conduit housing comprising two partsdetachably clamped one upon the other upon mutually engaged surfaceshaving passages provided therebetween formed by aplurality of-grooves inone of said surfaces disposed in the line of liquid flow and covered byopposite portions of the other surface, and portions of the engagedsurfaces outwardly of the passages sealing the juncture of the housingparts, and means communicating with said passages adapted to transmitliquid therefrom to an outlet conduit line. I

9. In a homogenizing device,'a housing comprising two chambers and anintermediate wall and having means for connecting the housing in aconduit liquid flow line for introducing liquid under pressure to thehousing on one side of the wall and conducting the liquid from the other'side of the wall, the housing being formed from two elements eachhaving flnished surface portions' thereon," means to clamp the elementstogether with one surface upon the other in coincidlng pressure sealedengagement therewith, and

a plurality of passages ex'tending through the wall comprising groovesin one flnished surface porr tion covered by overly portions of. theother finished surface portion.

10.- In a homogenizing device, joined means covered by an oppositeportion of the other inner surface, means to conflnedly conduct liquidunder pressure through the inner surfaces to the groove and toconflnedly conduct it away there from, and'the' outer pair of surfacessealing the juncture of the Joined means, and conduit means adaptedt'o-conduct liquid transmitted through the groove to a fluid outletconduit.

11. In a homogenizing device, a pair'of detachably joined elementshaving a wall therebetween, each of said elements having a co-planarportionsealedly engaged and formed to provide a continuous ewaytherebetween, means for conducting fluid from a fluid suppiyconduit tosaid eway through a plurality of relatively small orifices, and meansconducting fluid from the eway to a fluid outlet conduit. v JOHN H.GARDNER.

comprising a radial groove in one inner surface

